In a symposium chaired by Dr Yoon-Sim Yap of the National Cancer Centre Singapore, renowned regional and international experts in the field of breast cancer, Dr Yen-Shen Lu from Taiwan and Professor Nadia Harbeck from Germany, joined her in providing insights on the current treatment landscape of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) advanced breast cancer. In their respective sessions, they each highlighted new therapeutic options including the optimal use of dual blockade therapy for oestrogenreceptor-positive (ER+) advanced breast cancer for patients in Asia.

A second set of Choosing Wisely recommendations developed by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) were presented at the 56th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition. The following list adds to the previous five tests, treatments and procedures that should be questioned by clinicians and patients under specific, indicated circumstances. [Blood 2014;124:3524-3528]

Patients randomized to receive true acupuncture also experienced generally improved symptoms of the hips, knees and hands compared with the other two groups at week 6 and at week 12, as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Modified Score for the Assessment of Chronic Rheumatoid Affections of the Hands (M-SACRAH) (p<0.05).

“Improvements in worst pain scores were maintained to week 24, which indicates the durability of the effect,” Hershman added.

With regard to adverse events, more patients in the true acupuncture group experienced minor bruising vs the sham acupuncture group (47 vs 25 percent; p=0.01).

Patients in the study had been taking aromatase inhibitors for at least 30 days, with a BPI-WP worst pain score of ≥3 out of 10. They underwent two treatment sessions per week for 6 weeks, followed by one treatment session per week for the next 6 weeks. The patients were then followed up for another 12 weeks.

"This is great news in that women are often looking for nonpharmacologic ways to decrease the musculoskeletal symptoms they might experience with aromatase inhibitors, which are very effective in the treatment of hormone-sensitive breast cancer,” commented discussant Dr Ann Partridge of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, US.

“However, it is not known how long the treatment effect would last beyond the 24-week study period, and there are no data as to whether maintenance or booster sessions might be needed. This is important because aromatase inhibitors are usually prescribed for at least 5 years,” she added.

In a symposium chaired by Dr Yoon-Sim Yap of the National Cancer Centre Singapore, renowned regional and international experts in the field of breast cancer, Dr Yen-Shen Lu from Taiwan and Professor Nadia Harbeck from Germany, joined her in providing insights on the current treatment landscape of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) advanced breast cancer. In their respective sessions, they each highlighted new therapeutic options including the optimal use of dual blockade therapy for oestrogenreceptor-positive (ER+) advanced breast cancer for patients in Asia.

A second set of Choosing Wisely recommendations developed by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) were presented at the 56th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition. The following list adds to the previous five tests, treatments and procedures that should be questioned by clinicians and patients under specific, indicated circumstances. [Blood 2014;124:3524-3528]